Chapter 52
chapter fifty-two
Audrey
Today's vocabulary word: flourish
As we rolled to a stop in front of Shay and Noah's farmhouse, Percy asked, "Is that a pirate ship?"
"It is," I said with a laugh. "Noah's niece Gennie really likes pirates. He built a pirate ship clubhouse onto her swing set."
"Can I try it?" he asked.
"I'm sure Gennie would love to show you around. She's a little older than you. But I think you'll have a lot of fun with her. She's a really cool kid."
"Am I a cool kid?"
I shifted in my seat to face him. "You are one of the coolest kids I know and I've met lots of kids," I said. "Come on. Let's go find Gennie and check out this pirate ship."
As we spilled out of the car, Shay emerged from the house, a hand shielding her eyes from the sun. "You're here," she yelled, hurrying down the porch steps. She waved at Jude when she spotted him. "And you too!"
He raised a hand in greeting and he probably responded to her as well but I was too happy to see my dear old friend to notice. I rounded the car, my arms outstretched toward her. "We wouldn't miss it." We rocked back and forth in the kind of soul-fortifying hug that only Shay could give.
"You look amazing," she said, holding me at an arm's-length. "Whatever you're doing, it's working for you."
"And you," I said, motioning to her newly bobbed hair. "I love this length on you."
She smoothed a hand over the rose gold strands, grinning. "Everyone gets a back-to-school cut around here."
"Speaking of which…" I glanced back to find Percy trying to disappear behind Jude. He had an arm hooked around Jude's leg but his face was mashed into his father's shorts. "Is your niece around? I'd like her to meet my friend Percy."
"Just one sec." Shay held up a finger before jogging up the stairs. She rang an antique brass bell mounted beneath the porch light and then returned to the gravel drive. She bent down, saying, "Hi, Percy. I'm Shay."
He offered a small wave and went back to hiding behind Jude when a bellowed cry of "I'm coming!" came from the far side of the yard. Gennie sprinted to the driveway, a pair of old mutts trailing well behind her.
"Aunt Audrey," she shouted as she skidded to a stop in front of us. She threw her arms around my waist, knocking me back a step. "I've missed the shit out of you."
Jude coughed. "What just happened?"
"It's fine. Just go with it," I said to him as I smoothed a hand down the girl's ponytail. "I've missed you too, sweet girl. How was theater camp?"
"Amazing," she replied. "I learned how to do a kick line. I tried practicing at home but I broke a lot of bowls and cups and shit, and now I have to practice in the barn."
I stifled a laugh at that. "I don't know if Shay told you I'd be bringing some friends with me today but I have a few people I'd like for you to meet." I walked her closer to Jude and Percy, saying, "This is Percy. He noticed your clubhouse the minute we arrived. Would you want to give him a tour?"
She waved at him. "Hi. I'm Gennie." The dogs finally caught up with her and Percy's eyes grew wide when they gave him a thorough sniff.
"That's Starsky and that one's Hutch. They live here.
If you put out your hand like this"—she opened her palm—"they'll give you a shake. It's the only trick they know."
Percy held out his hand for the dogs and, right on cue, they took turns shaking. He laughed as they licked his hand too, and then all over his face. He snatched his tablet from Jude and quickly typed out, "My brother Bagel is a dog but he doesn't know how to shake."
"Your brother's a dog?" Gennie asked.
"Your— What?" Jude peered at the screen as if he expected to find a typo. "That's not how it works, young man."
"Yeah, it is. Bagel is my brother," Percy replied. "I told him we're brothers and he said that was okay."
Jude glanced at me over Percy's head, a completely bewildered look on his face. "What do I do with that?" he whispered.
"Nothing," I whispered back. "Let it be. He'll forget soon enough."
"Really?" Jude asked.
"I have no idea but it's worth a try," I said.
"I changed my mind," Gennie said to Shay. "I'll take a brother or sister if it's a dog."
"You have enough dogs," Shay said. "Enough dogs, enough cats, enough goats, enough chickens—"
"Don't remind me about the chickens," she said, covering her ears.
"I'd never want a chicken for a brother," Percy said.
Gennie dropped her hands and studied him closely. "Is that how you talk?" she asked, staring at the tablet. He nodded. I sensed Jude stiffen. "There's a kid in my class, Levi, and he uses an iPad too."
"Do you know sign language?" The tablet read out the question while Percy signed it.
Gennie shook her head but tried to reproduce his signs. "No. But I'll teach you the pirate codes anyway."
I heard a breath whoosh out of Jude. I glanced at him, offering my best trust me on this one smile.
"Do the codes unlock ancient prophecies?" Percy asked.
"Now, isn't that a great question. I wonder if we can find out any answers over here on the pirate ship," I called, crossing toward the swing set. "Oh, look. No one's on the best swing. I guess it's all mine."
Percy and Gennie shot past me. She went for the monkey bars while he climbed the ladder to the slide.
I took a turn on the swings while they blitzed through the apparatus.
I liked listening to them figure out how to play together.
He relied on the tablet to start but soon enough, they fell into an easy rhythm where they just understood each other.
When it seemed like they had it under control, I strolled back to Shay and Jude. Noah had joined a few minutes earlier, his all-terrain vehicle parked near the farmhouse. He tugged me into a one-armed hug when I approached but didn't stop explaining an issue of some sort to Jude.
"They keep telling me nothing's wrong but I know it doesn't sound right," Noah said.
"It's the fan," Jude said. "The electrical systems on these newer models are a disaster and the fans always end up fucked one way or another." He dipped his hands into his pockets, shrugged. "If we have a few minutes, I could probably fix it."
"Now? Seriously?" Noah rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "Yeah, of course. The corn isn't going anywhere. What do you need?"
Jude jogged back to the car, reached into the back seat, and pulled out a small case he had stowed there. "Pop it open and we'll figure it out."
Shay and I watched while they examined the ATV. "Boys and their toys," she said.
"Every time," I murmured.
"Do you want a drink or anything? A beach chair? A sun bonnet? The newest issue of People magazine?"
I chuckled. "Do you have all of those things?"
She thought about it for a second. "Yeah, I think so.
I need to duck inside for a sec because I had an incident with the cold brew and now I need to change my top.
" She pointed to a stain that I wouldn't have noticed.
"I also need to find my phone and put on some sunscreen before we embark on a festival journey. "
"I'm good," I said. "I'll keep an eye on the pirates."
I kept a comfortable distance while Jude presented an advanced course on ATV engines and the kids played on the swings. A few minutes passed before I spotted an unfamiliar car turning down the driveway.
I didn't think much of it because everyone seemed to love and tolerate each other in this small town and Shay was full of stories of folks dropping by with bread and gossip. But then Jamie climbed out of the SUV, yelling, "Hello, Friendship. Do you feel me? I'm in you!"
Ruth emerged from the driver's side, frowning at Jamie over the hood. "I can't believe you talked me into this."
"James! Ruth!" I cried, striding toward them. "You're here!"
"Get over here, baby girl," Jamie said. "Where's that fiancé of yours?"
I pointed to the ATV as I gave her a squeeze. "He's not my fiancé."
"You might not be his fiancée but he's yours," she said.
"I'm not debating this with you today," I said, laughing. "It's so good to see you." I pulled Ruth in for a hug. "I didn't think you'd make it."
Ruth pointed to Jamie. "This one told me she was stranded in the city."
I gaped at Jamie. "You could've gotten a ride with us."
"Yeah but how else would I have sprung her from the office?" Jamie waved this off, crossing her arms. "I make no apologies for my antics."
"Never have," I muttered, folding her into a hug.
"Could you apologize for the part where you told me this was a porn festival?" Ruth asked.
"I never said it was a porn festival," Jamie said.
"You used the corn emoji," Ruth said. "That's universally known as code for porn. Even my senior partner knows that and he thinks the Macarena is still trending."
"If you'd prefer it to be a porn festival, we might have more in common than I originally thought," Jamie said.
"It's not that I prefer porn," Ruth said.
"It sounds like you prefer porn," Jamie said, rolling her lips together as she fought off a laugh. "And that's great! I also prefer porn to corn. Honestly, who doesn't?"
"I don't," I said.
"Okay, but that's only because we haven't found the right porn for you," Jamie said. "I'm still looking. I'll get back to you soon."
"You really don't have to do that," I said. "In other news: how are you, James? How are you feeling?"
"Quite tragically, I feel a million times better when I'm not drinking or having sex. But taking all that away is like kicking out two legs on this tripod of mine."
"What's the third leg?" Ruth asked.
"Witchcraft," Jamie said. "Obviously."
"You are much more than sex and alcohol," I said.
"And witchcraft," Ruth muttered.
"It's just going to take you some time to find your new normal," I said.
"Audrey, darling, precious, love. Listen," Jamie said with a sigh.
"I've found the new normal and it consists of watching fourteen different spin-off versions of NCIS with my dad while frighteningly sober.
I don't even get to go and choke on a dick after that.
I crawl into bed at a respectable hour, not covered in jizz, and wake up without any unexplainable bruises. "
"This is how I felt when I stopped being able to tolerate gluten and a dozen other things," I said.
"You were disappointed about not going to bed covered in jizz?" Ruth asked.
"Yes. Nightly," I said to her, completely straight-faced. "It just felt like my world had turned upside down and everything that'd once been an ordinary part of my life, something I'd barely even thought about, was now a huge, dangerous problem."
"I just hate that I'm boring," Jamie said.
"The only version of you I've ever known has been the sober, celibate one," Ruth said. "Trust me when I say there's nothing boring about you."
I pointed at Ruth. "Listen to her."
"That's right, listen to me," Ruth said. "You should know by now that I don't bullshit anyone."
"And it won't be like this forever," I added. "You just need to stay healthy for a bit before easing back in and figuring out the limits."
"I really hope so," Jamie said.
"You'll be going to bed covered in jizz again before you know it," I said.
I felt an arm settle around my waist and then, "How is that I've never heard you use that word before?"
I nudged my elbow into Jude's side. "Quiet, you."
"I've known you a long time," he went on, "but this is a new one."
"Jamie brings it out in me," I said, laughing.
"You're welcome." She sidled closer. "So good to see you again, Daddy. It was such a long time between visits. Nice of you to stick around."
"Oh. Um. Yeah. You're right about—about that." Jude cleared his throat and glanced away. It was a real treat to see him leveled by Jamie Rouselle, a pattypan squash of a woman. "Good to see you too."
"Don't worry," she said, leaning in even closer. "I don't bite—much."
"Put it back in your pants, Morticia," Ruth said, play-shoving Jamie aside.
"Hi. We did not meet when you popped in for that come-and-go with our girl last month but I'm Ruth Ralston.
I'm an attorney and despite the fact you put Audrey through some very pointless hell, I don't like anything I've heard about your ongoing custody battles. "
Jude's fingers flexed on my waist as he listened. He shot a quick glance at Percy, still busy with Gennie, before saying, "I don't like it either but there's not much I can do."
Ruth pulled out her phone and started scrolling. "I'm not your attorney. I don't represent you. This is not legal advice. I don't even specialize in family law," she said.
Noah must've heard something that interested him because he looked up from the now-fixed ATV and called, "Who needs a family law attorney?"
"Jude does," Ruth shouted back.
"I have an attorney," Jude said.
"Not a good one if this situation is still going to court," Ruth said.
"This should've been resolved between counsel or in mediation.
" She went back to her phone. "I'm trying to find contact info for a friend of a friend who has a lot of experience with nonlinear custody situations and kinship petitions. "
"It's going to court? Why didn't you say something sooner? What's the situation?" Noah wiped his hands on a bandana as he joined us. "I'm only a farmer by family. Lawyer by trade."
Ruth held up a hand, saying, "Yeah, but you're a corporate litigation wonk like me. Family law is an entirely different ballgame."
"It is, though I did adopt my sister's daughter just a few years ago, so I've been on the field once or twice." Noah grinned up at the farmhouse as Shay stepped out onto the porch. "We'll talk this over at the festival. They'll have liquor. I find that helps."